UNION COUNTY, N.C. — One of Union County’s newest staff members spends a lot of time around four-legged friends and patients.

Dr. Jeff Broadaway is the first official county veterinarian. Union County officials said Broadaway will help manage the growing needs of the county’s animal shelter, animal disease control operations, and will advise the area’s large agriculture community.

Broadaway's new position is part of the county health department budget and was added in January. Deputy County Manager Michelle Lancaster said the role centralizes many duties previously contracted out to other suppliers.

Not to mention, Broadaway’s new role will also help the new Special Events Center, as well as the rest of the county. 

“We’re going to have a lot of agricultural events there. And so, having somebody who could be a touchpoint for folks who are using that - residents in the community, the Sheriff’s Office, dangerous dog issues, with public health. We just felt like it was a good opportunity to bring somebody on to fill spots in all those spaces,” Lancaster said.

In addition to those duties, Lancaster said Broadaway will also be the veterinarian for all the sheriff’s office service animals, which was previously contracted work. Overall, Broadaway will help out with a multitude of animal-related tasks.

“There’s also times, from a public health perspective, we’re contacted regarding certain diseases that are in the animal community. And so, this position is able to provide advice to staff and also to the community,” Lancaster said.

But for the doctor, it’s an opportunity to stay in his hometown and help the animals.

“It was a great opportunity to be home in my county. Instead of covering 18 counties for North Carolina, I get to concentrate my efforts in one county here,” Broadaway said at the animal shelter between surgeries.

Broadaway, who was preparing to do surgery on a dog, said the new job is keeping him busy.

“So ideally we’re doing surgery, honestly, as many days as we need to. I’m here certainly Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But some weeks that could expand, some weeks it could be less,” Broadaway said.

His patient, Sonic, was set to be neutered, a requirement of shelter pets before they can be adopted.

“No heart issues, everything sounds good,” Broadaway noted while examining Sonic with his assistant. 

He’s settling into the job he started in mid-March, taking over management of the animal shelter and its tenants, as well as the overall animal health of Union County.

“This position offered the opportunity really to intertwine human health and animal health,” Broadaway added.

The county said the growing needs of the animal shelter, as well as the new agriculture center, led to the creation of Broadaway’s position.

Broadaway was already doing contract work at the county shelter when they began discussions about the new position, eventually asking him to apply. He left his job as a private, large-animal veterinarian, as well as the work he did as a field veterinarian for the Department of Agriculture. 

Now, he said the new job is rewarding in a different way.

“It gives me the opportunity to see animals get a second chance, and to find a home, or to get into a home where you know they’re going to be loved and taken care of. And, you see what it does for the people,” Broadaway said.

As a pet owner, he knows how crucial his work will be to ensure these future pets get a good home.

“You want to make sure that you go that much further, that they find the home that would be good for them,” Broadaway said.

In a press release, Union County officials said:

"Dr. Broadaway brings 13 years of veterinary experience in both private and public sectors. In this new role, Dr. Broadaway will work as part of the County's Public Health team. His focus in public health will include zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, as well as other relevant public health animal-related functions. Additionally, Dr. Broadaway will work with Union County Sheriff's Office Animal Services to provide veterinary care for animals in the shelter and support for our law enforcement canines. He will also provide consultation and subject matter expertise to the Union County Cooperative Extension office."